Best Value for points. [Have > 1M] Need some ideas

[jslunn70]

Hi, Let me start. I have been a member of QFF for 12 over years now and have not used any points at all. I do not travel for work. I am a single 40 year old male and work for State Government. I take my 6 weeks annual leave each year and try to at least go overseas once a year for at least 3 or 4 weeks of my holidays that I pay for on my AMEX so I get points here there and everywhere.
As I have been a member of QFF for so long and I also live out of my Platinum AMEX card as my wallet 98% of the time have no cash in it. I pay my Amex out in full each month. And have been living this way for 10 years or more. I am currently on QF Silver I was gold last year but dropped back to silver and have paid for Qantas lounge membership.

So I have never redeamed any QFF points what so ever and now the time has come as I need to use some up. As Qantas is not the airline it used to be with the grounding last month of QF and the memories of the amount of Ansett point I lost when they went under. It is time to use them.

I have just over 1 Million QFF points at my last statement.

I travel to coughet at least once a year on JQ in *class to get the points and the status credits. and stay at Marriott hotels to also get the QF points.

But what I want to know is what is the best way to get value for points.

I would like to take a 6 week trip next year back to USA using all points for everything flights, accommodation if I can and tours.

Is it better value for points to buy a cheap y class QF fare and upgrade with points to a better class the best class I have ever flown in JQ *Class oh and had been free upgraded to QF business class domestic.

I really want to use a lot of my points up this year but as it has taken so long to earn them I really want the best value I can get for them. I would like to try QF business or even first class to USA but what is the best value for points. Or is premium economy the best value for points.???

Really would like some ideas on this.....

Thanks

 

[cove]

re: Best Value for points. [Have > 1M] Need some ideas

Each year we have been picking up either a 144,000 Classic or a 159,000 Any Seat one way to LAX and we really like doing that. I think that is really good value even if it is on the 747.
Getting home from LAX in QF First is much harder so the last six times we come home in J on SQ thru Singapore using Kris points.

 

[Limewood]

re: Best Value for points. [Have > 1M] Need some ideas

With a million points you should do it it style with real flat beds seats (unlike JQ), I'd be thinking of a JASA (J any seat award) with Q from OZ to LAX on a 380/747, if you book say 10/12 months can be had for 192K points + taxes or about 270K without extra dosh.

With JASA of course you will receive full flyer and status points as well. Others may know if you can use Q points for AA internal USA flights. Not sure about using points for hotels, never done it, tours doubtful.Then again with that many points and enough time why not around world flights via Oneworld?

 

[Gold Member]

re: Best Value for points. [Have > 1M] Need some ideas

Value is subjective, but if based on financial metrics, then I believe the best value can be achieved by a Business Class Zone 10 Partner Award for 280,000 points. This entitles each pax up to 35,000 miles (not necessarily in one direction ala RTW) and up to 5 stopovers. If you originated in Australia, the closest possible equivalent fare might be a DONE4 which is valued at about ~$14k last time I checked. But of course the DONE4 includes unlimited miles, 16 segments, is very flexible, earns SCs and points, and does not rely upon award inventory. So taking all that into account, I would personally value a zone 10 Partner Award at ~$7-8K based on the DONE4 value as well as what I might pay for similar business travel with Oneworld. That's roughly 2.5c per point value.

Longhaul AnySeat awards in premium cabins are also good value, especially if you can score those that with a marginally higher points tag than a regular Classic Award.

Based on my value system, the worst possible use of points are redemption via the QF Online store and for domestic economy flights. You can typically expect <1c per point value here.

 

[serfty]

Agree with Gold Member.

Although, First class at 420K may be an option (but definitely Business better value as there are not the many First class routes any more)

 

[scheps]

With a million points you should do it it style with real flat beds seats (unlike JQ), I'd be thinking of a JASA (J any seat award) with Q from OZ to LAX on a 380/747, if you book say 10/12 months can be had for 192K points + taxes or about 270K without extra dosh.

how? is this super rare? or some sort of super off peak season "price"?

 

[FrustratedQP]

Agree with Gold Member.

Although, First class at 420K may be an option (but definitely Business better value as there are not the many First class routes any more)

What does 420K get, RTW? Classic/ASA?

 

[Verde]

With a million points you should do it it style with real flat beds seats (unlike JQ), I'd be thinking of a JASA (J any seat award) with Q from OZ to LAX on a 380/747, if you book say 10/12 months can be had for 192K points + taxes or about 270K without extra dosh.

With JASA of course you will receive full flyer and status points as well. Others may know if you can use Q points for AA internal USA flights. Not sure about using points for hotels, never done it, tours doubtful.Then again with that many points and enough time why not around world flights via Oneworld?

You can book a partner award, but it doesn't give SC or FF points. Availability isn't fantastic but if you are flexible and book well in advance you'd be right (though not as difficult as the JASA to the USA will be).

I just tested HNL-LAS then, but yesterday I was looking at JFK-LHR since in 2013 I'm looking at making a RTW - JASA MEL-LAX, then classic partner JFK-LHR then JASA LHR-MEL with a YUPP to get me to JFK. I was looking at JFK-LHR since one way paid fares from all the carriers double if you do it one way (as I'm discovering happens out of HNL too).

 

[serfty]

What does 420K get, RTW? Classic/ASA?

420K is the oneworld Classic award in First.

For more, see here:
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ogram/oneworld-award-140k-280k-420k-8228.html

 

[Leumas]

If you can get the availability and optimise your routing to maximise the experience, I'd definitely go for a First Class RTW ticket.

It also depends on how much you want to sit on a plane. If not, you can go for Business Class and have a couple of trips.

In the season of giving, you can always gift it all to your long lost relative - me.

 

[ferni]

I looked at this the other day and think it's pretty clear what is better value, here is an example I looked at.

SYD LAX Y Return $2871 (Upgradable fare) + 144,000points (not guaranteed upgrade so could get stuck in Y and wasted $ for the fare)
SYD LAX J Return Award 196,000points + ~$800taxes (Have to find availability but at least you're guaranteed J)

So I guess the main reason people use points to upgrade is when traveling for work - most workplaces only pay for Economy.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Value is subjective, but if based on financial metrics, then I believe the best value can be achieved by a Business Class Zone 10 Partner Award for 280,000 points. This entitles each pax up to 35,000 miles (not necessarily in one direction ala RTW) and up to 5 stopovers. If you originated in Australia, the closest possible equivalent fare might be a DONE4 which is valued at about ~$14k last time I checked. But of course the DONE4 includes unlimited miles, 16 segments, is very flexible, earns SCs and points, and does not rely upon award inventory. So taking all that into account, I would personally value a zone 10 Partner Award at ~$7-8K based on the DONE4 value as well as what I might pay for similar business travel with Oneworld. That's roughly 2.5c per point value.

I agree Gold Member.
The 280k, 35k J option is very good value. I am aiming for this myself, about ~80k short.

 

[cove]

How did that million points go?

 

[infinity]

Each year we have been picking up either a 144,000 Classic or a 159,000 Any Seat one way to LAX and we really like doing that. I think that is really good value even if it is on the 747.
Getting home from LAX in QF First is much harder so the last six times we come home in J on SQ thru Singapore using Kris points.

I concur with Cove. LAX/SYD is so hard to get J/F even in Classic mode rather than JASA/FASA.

Thanks to SQ for relaxing their rules in March to make more points tix available